Andrew's Reviews > Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was a genius control freak who changed the world. He was not a good person but he was a great man. A lot of readers seem to be knocking the book simply because they don't like Jobs or feel he should have treated people better, given all his money to charity, or whatever else. The point of a biography is to accurately represent the life of its subject, flaws and all, which is something this book does very well.

Jobs, the man, was a walking contradiction. He was a fruit-and-veggie-eating hippie who understood that capitalism was necessary to innovate and deliver upon his vision. He would berate his employees constantly, yet would break down crying whenever the criticism turned to him or his company. He was obviously a little damaged from being abandoned by his birth parents, but then essentially did the same thing to his first daughter.

And yet, if there was ever a case where the ends justified the means, it was the life and career of Steve Jobs. The epilogue says it best: "Any judgments must take into account results." And the fact remains that Apple's best results, the ones that have changed our lives, all came under Jobs's watchful eye, and that will be his lasting legacy.